The show will go on

CEBU, Philippines - Despite only five teams are seeing action, the 6th CESAFI Partner's Cup will take off as scheduled this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, who will don the jersey of corporate backer Prime Asia Lending, will lead the pack of contenders that include Lion Tiger Katol/University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, Gaisano Capital Tisa-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, San Marino Corned Tuna-University of Southern Philippines Panthers (USPF) and KIA Motors/Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats.

The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras and the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors backed out due to lack of players.

The event was formally launched by CESAFI commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. during yesterday's weekly SCOOP-Cebu forum at Baseline Restaurant.

Tiukinhoy was joined by UC team manager Atty. Baldomero "Merong" C. Estenzo and representatives of the league's corporate sponsors namely Lyndon Angan of RCTV Sports and Skycable, which will cover the games from semis up to the best-of-five finals, Arnel Lupain of San Marino Corned Tuna, CIT-U athletic director Alex de la Torre in behalf of Kia Motors and UC coach Roel Gomez.

The tournament follows a double round robin format, with the top qualifier gaining outright berth into the semifinal round. The remaining four will play another single round robin to determine the placings as only one of the five entries will be booted out.

The survivors will then slug it out for the championship in a best-of-five series, while the battle for third will be a race-to-2 affair.

Meanwhile, Estenzo said they will seek a clarification from the CESAFI Board with regards to the amendment of the residency rule from one year to two years.

Estenzo believes that those who have already served a one-year residency before the rule was amended should be allowed to play.  (FREEMAN)